An autopsy has determined that a 44-year-old Kansas City woman died in March from inhaling sewer gas, and that drug use and another health problem contributed to the death. The Jackson County medical examiner's office ruled recently that Bernice Weaver's death was an accident from "hydrogen sulfide intoxication," The Kansas City Star reported. Hydrogen sulfide, commonly known as sewer gas, is produced from the decay of organic material. When high levels of sewer gas are inhaled, it starves the victim's cells of oxygen, similar to carbon monoxide. The autopsy results noted that methamphetamine abuse and asthma were also contributing factors in Weaver's death. The results say Weaver was found underneath a sink and had apparently poured a powerful drain cleaner into a pipe under the sink after she and her roommate disassembled the plumbing to deal with a clog. Dan Ferguson, spokesman for the medical examiner's office, said while drain cleaner should not produce hydrogen sulfide, it "may have enhanced" the release of hydrogen sulfide from the water. Nick Gromicko, founder of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, said deaths from inhaling toxic sewer gas, while rare, could be more common than people know and possibly written off as other causes if autopsies weren't performed. He said Weaver's death could also have been due to a set of unusual circumstances, including the methamphetamine abuse, asthma and drain cleaner. "Does it happen a lot and people don't notice? That's happened in history before," he said. "Or is it a bad combination of things?"

KANSAS CITY, Mo. —

An autopsy has determined that a 44-year-old Kansas City woman died in March from inhaling sewer gas, and that drug use and another health problem contributed to the death.

The Jackson County medical examiner's office ruled recently that Bernice Weaver's death was an accident from "hydrogen sulfide intoxication," The Kansas City Star reported.

Hydrogen sulfide, commonly known as sewer gas, is produced from the decay of organic material. When high levels of sewer gas are inhaled, it starves the victim's cells of oxygen, similar to carbon monoxide.

The autopsy results noted that methamphetamine abuse and asthma were also contributing factors in Weaver's death.

The results say Weaver was found underneath a sink and had apparently poured a powerful drain cleaner into a pipe under the sink after she and her roommate disassembled the plumbing to deal with a clog.

Dan Ferguson, spokesman for the medical examiner's office, said while drain cleaner should not produce hydrogen sulfide, it "may have enhanced" the release of hydrogen sulfide from the water.

Nick Gromicko, founder of the International Association of Certified Home Inspectors, said deaths from inhaling toxic sewer gas, while rare, could be more common than people know and possibly written off as other causes if autopsies weren't performed. He said Weaver's death could also have been due to a set of unusual circumstances, including the methamphetamine abuse, asthma and drain cleaner.

"Does it happen a lot and people don't notice? That's happened in history before," he said. "Or is it a bad combination of things?"